Old Dogs versus Young

Wednesday

Jan 2, 2013 at 4:24 PM

Seniors have something to offer.

Shiela Rabe

There is something to be said for sharing one's life with an old dog - and, no I am not referring to my husband. Over the years I have had the privilege of caring for pets from babihood to advanced age. Puppies and kittens are lovely, wild and undisciplined, and lots of work. There's potty training, behavior modification, obedience, keeping them busy and safe from all the potential hazards the very young can get into. I could just as well be talking about children, because there are a lot of parallels with kids and pets. And, as with adolescent and teenage kids who don't want to listen to parent's advice and counsel, young pets can get into troubles too. I found it much easier to relate to my 30 year old son than when he was a preteen. He was a young, gawky, playful and sometimes downright obnoxious golden retreiver in human form. I am happy that is behind us.

So if you the readers have thought about adopting or fostering a senior dog or cat, think back to when your children were young. An older pet may be just what you need and perhaps you may really enjoy relating to a rescued animal that has been around the block a time or two. The photo with this blog is of Chip, a 9 year old collie cross who came into the rescue because his owners were no longer well enough to care for him. He was gentle, quiet and so very grateful for a warm bed, a pat on the head and someone to share a long walk with. We kept him for 2 months until a new owner, a senior, himself, adopted Chip. From my last report, both are still going strong.